Question

Carbohydrates are able to store sunlight as chemical energy. Compare the positions of electrons in CO₂ to determine the amount of energy in the C=O bond. Which of the following statements describes the energy potential?

1. There is relatively low potential energy in the C=O bond in CO₂ because the electronegativity of carbon and oxygen are about the same.

2. There is relatively low potential energy in the C=O bond in CO₂ because of oxygen’s high electronegativity.

3. The electrons involved in the C=O bond in CO₂ are shared equally because the electronegativity of carbon and oxygen is about the same. Thus, these electrons have relatively high potential energy.

4. There is relatively high potential energy in the C=O bond in CO₂ because of oxygen’s high electronegativity.

Answer 1

Carbohydrates are able to store sunlight as chemical energy. Compare the positions of electrons in CO2 to determine the amount of energy in the C=O bond. Which of the following statements describes the energy potential?
Correct option:
4. There is relatively high potential energy in the C=O bond in CO2 because of oxygen’s high electronegativity.

Explanation: Oxygen has an electronegativity value of 3.44 which is pretty high as compared to electronegativity value of 2.55 of carbon. Hence, statement 4 describes the correct energy potential of the CO2 bond.